Political Quotes

“I think it is dangerous to legislate biological opinions about species without the opportunity to thoughtfully review the effects of such a far-reaching amendment. I think it is just as dangerous to force our citizens in rural communities into dire circumstances when a law that has accomplished many good things contains serious administrative flaws that are producing an increasing number of bad things. It was my intent, if the Endangered Species Act amendment had not been tabled, to offer a second-degree amendment to it. My amendment would have allowed the Senate to pick up on the very generous offer made by Chairman Jeffords to try to get this job done right. My amendment would have sought to try to address the problems in the Klamath Basin in a comprehensive way, in a fashion that would have helped farmers produce water conservation and improve water quality and, at the same time, would have protected species.”